WorkCover Queensland (or other Worker's Compensation insurer i.e. a self insurer) may send to you a document called a Notice of Assessment at some stage during the life of your WorkCover Injury Claim. The Notice of Assessment may have an assessment of percentage work related impairment and may offer you a lump sum payment. DO NOT SIGN the Notice of Assessment without seeking legal advice first, as you may end all future rights to claim.

If you have suffered a permanent injury that was as a result of someone elses negligence it is recommended you speak with a work injury lawyer for further advice. We provide free legal advice.

If you sign the Notice of Assessment, you will end your Workers Compensation rights and your Civil Law rights.

  WorkCover QLD usually send the Notice of Assessment direct to the person claiming (you) rather than the claiming person's representative (us). When you receive a Notice of Assessment, please contact us for Free Legal Advice for legal advice.

When you receive a Notice of Assessment, seek legal advice.  We provide immediate assistance and free legal advice.  We provide a legal opinion from an injury lawyer who will advise you of your options and entitlements.

Have you received your Notice of Assessment?

If you have recently received a Notice of Assessment from WorkCover you will see that your injury has been given a percentage of impairment.

The percentage awarded will affect the level of compensation that you are entitled to and may also affect your rights to a common law claim if there was negligence involved.

When the Notice of Assessment has been received it is then recommended that you speak with a personal injury lawyer (or work injury lawyer). An injury lawyer will be able to advise you of all your options and entitlements. Do seek legal advice before you sign anything, once an offer is signed and accepted that is the end of your claim and ends your rights to any further claims.

In short you have two choices after receiving a Notice of Assessment.

• The first choice is to accept the offer from WorkCover. By doing so you may lose your right to claim any further compensation such as a common law claim if the injury was as a result of negligence. Payment is usually awarded in 28 days for losses and expenses and does not take into consideration any future losses or expenses (future economic loss)

• The second choice is to continue your claim by pursuing a common law claim. A common law claim is a separate claim for compensation that is not available under workers Compensation. This claim is usually  usually awarded in an 18 month time frame (approximately) and takes both past and future economic losses into account and also awards you for your pain and suffering.

Not everyone has rights to a common law claim as negliigence needs to be clearly proven, so it is recommended you seek  legal advice. For a legal opinion from an injury lawyer who will advise you of your options and entitlements.

When you extend your claim to a common law claim your lawyer will put you forward for a separate independent review of your injury. Quite often you might find the Notice of Assessment awards 0%, but once reassessed you may find this may change after a second opinion.

If you have suffered an injury at work that impacts your health in the long term and inevitably your life, your income, and your potential futures losses it is important to get legal advice.

Always seek advice before you sign or accept any offer of compensation and have an independent review of your claim for compensation to determine your entitlements.

We provide free legal advice!